Matri’s Champions League dream

Alessandro Matri says he fulfilled a childhood dream with Juventus during the course of the 2012-13 campaign.

“It was great to make my debut in the Champions League last season,” the 28-year-old said from Juventus’ summer training retreat. “It was a dream come true.

“It’s the most important competition I’ve played in and something you dream of doing as a youngster. It’s just a shame we went out in the way we did.”

The former Cagliari man netted twice in nine Champions League outings for the Bianconeri before they lost in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Bayern Munich.

Matri is now back in training with his teammates after they won their second consecutive championship last term.

“It’s been a tough start, but it’s always nice to get going again and think about the new campaign that’s on the horizon,” he added.